JP2011194172A - Cosmetic apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To detect a short-circuit between electrodes in a cosmetic apparatus.SOLUTION: When RF electrodes 21, 22 are short-circuited and an excess current is produced in a circuit 25, supply of a high frequency current from an RF transmitter 15 is stopped by a controller 11. Presence/non-presence of occurrence of the excess current, that is, a short circuit, is detected by comparing a current between the RF transmitter 15 and the RF electrodes 21, 22 acquired through a current sensor 24 and a threshold stored in a memory 11a. The threshold is set at a current value for which the excess current to be caused in a short circuit is used as a reference. Specifically, when the current acquired through the current sensor 24 is equal to or higher than the threshold, a short circuit state is detected and the supply of a high frequency current is stopped. Thus, an instable operation situation due to the excess current is quickly dissolved.

Description

  The present invention relates to a beauty device.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, beauty apparatuses that irradiate skin with pulsed light and supply low-frequency current or high-frequency current to the skin are known. By using this beauty device, skin cells are activated by pulsed light, and there is a beauty effect that tightens the skin by a low-frequency current or a high-frequency current.

  As an apparatus using the above principle, for example, a configuration described in Patent Document 1 is known. In addition, although the apparatus in this literature is a therapeutic apparatus aiming at a treatment, there can exist the cosmetic effect mentioned above by pulsed light and a low frequency electric current. As shown in FIG. 13, a probe 100 that is a probe of the apparatus includes a pulse light source 102 provided therein and a transparent electrode 101 that is directly pressed against the skin. The probes 100 are configured in pairs. By applying both transparent electrodes 101 to the skin, a low-frequency current from the device is supplied into the body via both transparent electrodes 101. The light emitted from the pulsed light source 102 is applied to the skin through the transparent electrode 101. According to this structure, the cosmetic effect by a pulsed light and a low frequency current is acquired simultaneously.

  Further, for example, in the beauty device shown in Patent Document 2, both electrodes are arranged in a single probe. Thereby, since the distance between electrodes can be made small, a low frequency electric current can be supplied to the local part of skin.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-10331 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-154910

  Incidentally, it is known that there is a proportional relationship between the distance between the electrodes and the depth of current. Here, the depth of penetration refers to the maximum depth at which current flows in the body based on the surface of the skin (skin surface). That is, as the distance between the electrodes increases, the current reaches the deeper portion in order from the epidermis, dermis, subcutaneous fat of the skin, and the muscles below the skin. Here, in order to further improve the cosmetic effect, it is necessary to supply an electric current intensively to the skin that is shallower than the muscle. Further, by supplying a high-frequency current to a relatively shallow part of the skin, that is, the epidermis or dermis, the collagen of the dermis can be effectively contracted and the skin can be tightened. Thus, although there exists a request to supply an electric current to a shallow part, when the beauty apparatus is comprised by shortening the distance between electrodes, possibility that both electrodes will short-circuit increases. Specifically, since the distance between the electrodes is short, when a probe is pressed against the skin, a metal such as a necklace or a wristwatch worn by the user easily comes into contact with both electrodes. When both electrodes are short-circuited through contact between both electrodes, an overcurrent is generated in the internal circuit of the beauty device. Thus, even when an overcurrent occurred, it could not be known.

  This invention is made | formed in view of such a situation, The objective is to provide the beauty device which can detect the short circuit between electrodes.

Hereinafter, means for achieving the above object will be described.
A first invention includes a plurality of electrodes that supply current to the skin through contact with the skin, a control device that controls supply of current to the electrodes, and a current sensor that detects current supplied to the electrodes. And when the current detected by the current sensor is equal to or higher than a threshold value set as a reference when determining whether or not the electrode is short-circuited, the electrode is in a short-circuited state. The gist is to detect this.

The gist of the second invention is that, when the control device detects that it is in a short circuit state, it stops the supply of current to the electrode.
3rd invention is equipped with the insulating member arrange | positioned between a pair of mutually adjacent electrodes on the same surface as the plurality of electrodes, and the insulating member has a height in a direction orthogonal to the surface. It is larger than the electrode, and is provided at a position that bisects a quadrilateral having two sides of a line formed on both side surfaces of the electrodes on the insulating member side when viewed from the direction perpendicular to the surface. Is the gist.

A fourth invention includes a light source that irradiates the skin with light from the back side of the electrode, and the gist of the invention is that the electrode is a transparent electrode.
According to a fifth aspect of the invention, at least three of the electrodes are arranged at a plurality of positions having different distances between the electrodes, and the control device supplies current to at least two of the plurality of electrodes. This is the gist.

  The sixth aspect of the present invention is provided with the plurality of electrodes and an installation member on which the electrodes are arranged, and an electrode unit that is detachably attached to the body of the beauty device via the installation member. It is said.

  The gist of the seventh invention is that the light source is at least one of a xenon flash, an LED, and a halogen lamp.

  According to the present invention, a short circuit between electrodes can be detected in a cosmetic device.

The lineblock diagram of the beauty device in a 1st embodiment. The front view of the beauty apparatus in 1st Embodiment. Sectional drawing which showed the internal structure of the beauty apparatus in 1st Embodiment. The bottom view of the beauty device in a 1st embodiment. The enlarged view of RF electrode vicinity of FIG. 3 in 1st Embodiment. The block diagram of the beauty apparatus in 2nd Embodiment. The bottom view of the beauty apparatus in 2nd Embodiment. (A) And (b) in 2nd Embodiment is explanatory drawing which showed the path | route of an electric current when an electric current was supplied between different RF electrodes, respectively. Sectional drawing which showed the internal structure of the beauty apparatus and electrode unit in 3rd Embodiment. The bottom view of the electrode unit in 3rd Embodiment. The bottom view of the electrode unit in 3rd Embodiment. The bottom view of the beauty device in other embodiments. Sectional drawing of the conventional probe.

(First embodiment)
Hereinafter, a first embodiment embodying a beauty device according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. In the cosmetic device in this example, a cosmetic effect can be obtained by applying pulsed light and high-frequency current to the skin.

First, the structure regarding the pulsed light in a beauty apparatus is demonstrated.
As shown in FIG. 1, the beauty device includes a control device 11, a light source irradiation circuit 13, and a light source 14. The control device 11 outputs a control signal to the light source irradiation circuit 13. The light source irradiation circuit 13 supplies power from the battery (internal power supply) to the light source 14 based on the control signal. The light source 14 emits light when power is supplied. In this example, the light source 14 employs a xenon flash. Xenon flash can warm the shallow part of the skin (the epidermis) and activate the cells in that part. In this example, light having a wavelength of 400 nm or less, which is considered to have an adverse effect on the skin, is cut by an optical filter (not shown).

Next, the structure regarding the high frequency current in the beauty apparatus will be described.
As shown in FIG. 1, the beauty device includes an RF (Radio Frequency) transmitter 15, a pair of RF electrodes 21 and 22, and a current sensor 24. The control device 11 outputs a control signal to the RF transmitter 15. Based on the control signal, the RF transmitter 15 converts a direct current from a battery (not shown) into a high frequency current (alternating current) and supplies the converted high frequency current to the RF electrodes 21 and 22. Note that transparent electrodes formed of ITO (Indium Tin Oxide) are employed for the RF electrodes 21 and 22.

  When the RF electrodes 21 and 22 are applied to the skin, the skin becomes an electrical resistance that connects the RF electrodes 21 and 22. As a result, the circuit 25 including the RF transmitter 15 and the RF electrodes 21 and 22 is electrically closed, and a high-frequency current flows through the circuit 25. Since the skin exists between the path of the circuit 25, specifically, between the RF electrodes 21 and 22, a high frequency current can be supplied to the skin. In addition, since electric energy is consumed as heat energy in the skin which acts as electrical resistance, the skin (dermis, subcutaneous fat) can be warmed. Thereby, collagen and subcutaneous fat of dermis can contract and can tighten skin. Moreover, the skin's impedance (electrical resistance) is lowered by heating the epidermis by irradiation of pulsed light from the light source 14. For this reason, the high frequency current can surely reach the dermis and subcutaneous fat deeper than the epidermis, and the above-described cosmetic effect can be obtained.

  As shown in FIG. 1, a current sensor 24 is provided between the RF transmitter 15 and the RF electrode 21. The current sensor 24 detects a current flowing between the RF transmitter 15 and the RF electrode 21 and outputs the detection result to the control device 11. In this example, the current sensor 24 employs a thermoelectric ammeter.

  The control device 11 includes a nonvolatile memory 11a, and a threshold value is stored in the memory 11a. Here, when both the RF electrodes 21 and 22 have extremely small resistance, for example, are connected by metal and the both RF electrodes 21 and 22 are short-circuited, an overcurrent is generated in the circuit 25. This threshold value is set to a current value based on an overcurrent generated at the time of a short circuit. Therefore, when the current is greater than or equal to the threshold value, it can be detected that the current is an overcurrent. When the current detected through the current sensor 24 becomes equal to or greater than the threshold value, the control device 11 detects that the overcurrent has occurred and is in a short-circuit state. Here, if an overcurrent exceeding the standard current flows through the circuit 25, the operation of the beauty device may become unstable. When the control device 11 detects the short circuit state, the control device 11 stops the supply of the high-frequency current to the RF electrodes 21 and 22 through the RF transmitter 15. As a result, the continuous overcurrent is suppressed from flowing through the circuit 25, so that the unstable operation state is quickly eliminated.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the beauty device includes a power switch 16 and a light irradiation switch 17 operated by a user. As shown in FIG. 2, the power switch 16 and the light irradiation switch 17 are attached to a resin housing 30 that forms the outer shape of the apparatus. When the power switch 16 is operated, an operation signal to that effect is output to the control device 11. When the control device 11 receives an operation signal from the power switch 16, it enters a state in which battery power (not shown) can be supplied to the RF electrodes 21 and 22 through the RF transmitter 15. At this time, if skin contacts between the RF electrodes 21 and 22, the high-frequency current converted by the RF transmitter 15 flows into the circuit 25 including the RF electrodes 21 and 22. In this state, when the control device 11 receives the operation signal from the power switch 16 again, the control device 11 stops the power supply to the RF electrodes 21 and 22 via the RF transmitter 15.

  When the light irradiation switch 17 is operated, an operation signal to that effect is output to the control device 11. Upon receiving an operation signal from the light irradiation switch 17, the control device 11 supplies battery power (not shown) to the light source 14 via the light source irradiation circuit 13. Thereby, the light source 14 emits light. When receiving the operation signal from the light irradiation switch 17 again, the control device 11 stops the power supply to the light source 14 via the light source irradiation circuit 13. As described above, a high-frequency current or pulsed light is supplied by operating the power switch 16 or the light irradiation switch 17. When the high frequency current and the pulsed light are not supplied, the high frequency current and the pulsed light can be supplied simultaneously by operating the power switch 16 and the light irradiation switch 17. The power supply of the beauty device is not limited to a battery, and may be a commercial power supply. In this case, the battery of the beauty device can be omitted.

Next, the configuration of the light source 14 and the RF electrodes 21 and 22 will be described with reference to FIG.
As shown in the figure, a transmission plate 33 is fitted into the bottom of the housing 30. The transmission plate 33 is made of, for example, quartz glass or acrylic resin having light transmittance and non-conductivity. A reflective member 32 is provided inside the housing 30. The reflecting member 32 is formed in an umbrella shape in which the hole diameter decreases toward the upper side. The inner surface of the reflecting member 32 is formed with, for example, an aluminum layer having a property of reflecting light.

  A light source 14 made of a tube is provided on the inner top of the reflecting member 32. Therefore, the reflecting member 32 reflects the light diffused upward from the light source 14 to the transmission plate 33 side. The pulsed light from the light source 14 is applied to the skin through the transmission plate 33.

  As shown in FIG. 4, a pair of RF electrodes 21 and 22 and an insulating member 34 are disposed on the surface exposed to the outside of the transmission plate 33. Each RF electrode 21, 22 is formed in a rectangular plate shape. In this example, the thickness of each RF electrode 21, 22 is set to 0.1 μm. Both RF electrodes 21 and 22 are arranged in such a manner that their long sides are in surface contact with the transmission plate 33 and their long sides are oriented in the vertical direction of FIG. Both RF electrodes 21 and 22 are separated from each other by a distance D. The insulating member 34 is formed in a rectangular plate shape having a long side larger than the long sides of the RF electrodes 21 and 22. As shown in FIG. 5, the insulating member 34 is installed in a state in which the side surface on the long side is in surface contact with the transmission plate 33. A short side extending in a direction perpendicular to the surface of the transmission plate 33 in the insulating member 34 is larger than the thickness of the RF electrodes 21 and 22 and is set to 1 mm in this example. The insulating member 34 is made of the same material as the transmission plate 33, that is, quartz glass or acrylic resin. The insulating member 34 has a long side arranged in a direction along the vertical direction of FIG. 4 and is positioned at the center between the RF electrodes 21 and 22 in the horizontal direction of FIG. That is, when a quadrilateral 38 having both side edges 21a and 22a formed by the side surfaces of the RF electrodes 21 and 22 on the insulating member 34 side is virtually set, the quadrilateral 38 is set to 2 on the left and right. An insulating member 34 is provided at a position to be divided. Therefore, the insulating member 34 protrudes from both sides of the RF electrodes 21 and 22 in the vertical direction of FIG.

  The RF electrodes 21 and 22 and the insulating member 34 are bonded to the transmission plate 33 with an ultraviolet curable adhesive. Here, when the RF electrodes 21 and 22 are applied to the skin, the skin is deformed by about 1 mm with respect to the insulating member 34. For this reason, the insulating member 34 does not hinder the contact between the RF electrodes 21 and 22 and the skin. As described above, transparent electrodes made of ITO are employed as the RF electrodes 21 and 22. For this reason, even when the RF electrodes 21 and 22 are arranged close to each other, the light from the light source 14 is not blocked. Similarly, quartz glass or acrylic resin is employed as the insulating member 34, so that the insulating member 34 does not block the light from the light source 14.

  Further, a conductive wire 39 is connected to the side surface of the RF electrodes 21 and 22 opposite to the insulating member 34. As shown in FIG. 5, each conducting wire 39 extends from the lower surface of the transmission plate 33 (RF electrode installation surface) to the inside of the housing 30 through a side surface extending in the paper direction of the drawing. These conducting wires 39 are connected to the RF transmitter 15. That is, the conducting wire 39 configures the circuit 25 by connecting the RF transmitter 15 and the RF electrodes 21 and 22.

  Since both RF electrodes 21 and 22 are used by moving on the skin in contact with the skin, it is assumed that a metal such as a necklace or a wristwatch worn by the user is in contact with both RF electrodes 21 and 22. The However, the insulating member 34 suppresses the metal from contacting between the RF electrodes 21 and 22. Specifically, it is assumed that the metal 37 shown by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 5 is in contact with one RF electrode 21 and the lower surface of FIG. At this time, the protruding height of the insulating member 34 from the lower surface of the transmission plate 33 is formed larger than the thickness of the RF electrodes 21 and 22. For this reason, the metal 37 is separated from the other RF electrode 22 toward the insulating member 34 side. As a result, the metal 37 is prevented from coming into contact with the other RF electrode 22.

  Further, it is assumed that the metal 37 indicated by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 4 is in contact with the RF electrode 21 and the upper surface of the insulating member 34 in FIG. At this time, since the insulating member 34 protrudes from both sides of the RF electrodes 21 and 22 in the vertical direction in FIG. 4, the metal 37 is separated from the other RF electrode 22 toward the insulating member 34 side. As a result, the metal 37 is prevented from coming into contact with the other RF electrode 22. Similarly, when the metal 37 abuts against the other RF electrode 22, the distance between the one RF electrode 21 and the metal 37 is secured by the insulating member 34, so that the abutment is suppressed. Even if the RF electrodes 21 and 22 are short-circuited, the supply of the high-frequency current from the RF transmitter 15 is automatically stopped as described above.

As described above, the short-circuit between the RF electrodes 21 and 22 is suppressed by the insulating member 34, and even if it is short-circuited, the state is quickly eliminated.
As described above, according to the embodiment described above, the following effects can be obtained.

  (1) When the RF electrodes 21 and 22 are short-circuited and an overcurrent is generated in the circuit 25, the control device 11 stops the supply of the high-frequency current from the RF transmitter 15. The presence or absence of occurrence of an overcurrent, that is, a short circuit is detected by comparing the current between the RF transmitter 15 and the RF electrodes 21 and 22 acquired through the current sensor 24 with the threshold value stored in the memory 11a. The threshold value is set to a current value based on an overcurrent generated at the time of a short circuit. Specifically, when the current acquired through the current sensor 24 is equal to or greater than the threshold value, it is detected that the short circuit is present, and the supply of the high-frequency current is stopped. For this reason, the unstable operation | movement condition by overcurrent is eliminated rapidly.

In addition, since the operation of stopping the current supply from the detection of the overcurrent to the RF electrodes 21 and 22 is automatically performed by the control device 11, the user does not have to operate the power switch 16.
(2) The insulating member 34 suppresses the metal from contacting between the RF electrodes 21 and 22. That is, even when the metal 37 is in contact with one RF electrode 21, the metal 37 comes into contact with the insulating member 34, so that the metal 37 is separated from the RF electrode 22 toward the other RF electrode 22. Thereby, contact with metal 37 and the other RF electrode 22 can be controlled.

  (3) As the RF electrodes 21 and 22, transparent electrodes made of ITO are employed. For this reason, even when the RF electrodes 21 and 22 are arranged close to each other, the RF electrodes 21 and 22 do not block the pulsed light from the light source 14.

(Second Embodiment)
Hereinafter, a second embodiment of the beauty device according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. The beauty device of this embodiment is different from the first embodiment in the number of RF electrodes. Hereinafter, a description will be given focusing on differences from the first embodiment. Note that the beauty device of this embodiment has substantially the same configuration as the beauty device of the first embodiment shown in FIG. Further, the insulating member 34 of the first embodiment is omitted.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the beauty device includes a total of nine RF electrodes 41 a to 41 i. As shown in FIG. 7, the RF electrodes 41 a to 41 i are arranged in a 3 × 3 matrix along the left-right and up-down directions with respect to the lower surface of the transmission plate 33. The RF electrodes 41a to 41c, the RF electrodes 41d to 41f, and the RF electrodes 41g to 41i are arranged in the same row (left and right direction) at intervals. In addition, the RF electrodes 41a, 41d, and 41g, the RF electrodes 41b, 41e, and 41h, and the RF electrodes 41c, 41f, and 41i are arranged in the same row (vertical direction) at intervals. In this example, the RF electrodes 41a to 41i are arranged at intervals of 5 mm in the matrix direction. Conductive wires 49 connected to the respective RF electrodes 41a to 41i pass through the transmission plate 33 in a direction orthogonal to the surface thereof and are connected to the RF transmitter 15 inside the housing 30 respectively.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the beauty device includes a mode switch 45 in addition to the power switch 16 and the light irradiation switch 17. The mode switch 45 is attached to the housing 30 in the same manner as the power switch 16 and the like. When the mode switch 45 is operated, an operation signal indicating that is output to the control device 11. When the control device 11 receives the operation signal from the mode switch 45, the control device 11 changes the combination of the RF electrodes that supply the high-frequency current via the RF transmitter 15.

  Here, it is known that there is a proportional relationship between the interelectrode distance D and the depth L of the high-frequency current. Here, the depth L is the maximum depth at which a high-frequency current flows in the body with reference to the skin surface (skin surface). Specifically, the depth L is about 50% of the inter-electrode distance D. This can be derived based on the basic equation of electromagnetic waves. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 8A, when a high-frequency current is supplied to the RF electrode 41a and the RF electrode 41b, the depth L is about 2.5 mm, which is about 50% of the inter-electrode distance D of 5 mm. . As shown in FIG. 8B, when high-frequency current is supplied to the RF electrode 41a and the RF electrode 41c, the depth L is about 5 mm, which is about 50% of 10 mm which is the inter-electrode distance D. Thus, based on the combination of RF electrodes to which high-frequency current is supplied, it is possible to change to which layer of the skin epidermis, dermis and subcutaneous fat the high-frequency current is supplied.

  In consideration of the above points, the control device 11 supplies a high-frequency current between the RF mode and a shallow mode that supplies a high-frequency current between adjacent RF electrodes based on an operation signal from the mode switch 45. The operation mode of the beauty device is switched between the deep mode and the deep mode. Each time the control device 11 receives an operation signal from the mode switch 45, the control device 11 switches the operation state between the two modes.

  In the shallow mode, the RF electrode 41a and the RF electrode 41b, the RF electrode 41d and the RF electrode 41e, the RF electrode 41g and the RF electrode 41h, and the RF electrode 41c and the RF electrode 41f are adjacent to each other. A high frequency current is supplied to each set of RF electrodes. A high-frequency current is sequentially supplied to each set of RF electrodes. That is, the control device 11 switches the combination of RF electrodes that supply high-frequency current at high speed via the RF transmitter 15. As described above, by switching at high speed, the skin can be heated on average in the installation direction of the RF electrodes 41a to 41i with a high-frequency current. Here, for example, when a high-frequency current is supplied to the RF electrode 41a and the RF electrode 41b, the other RF electrodes 41c to 41i are in an open state by a switch element (not shown) provided in the RF transmitter 15. For this reason, the current from the RF electrodes 41a and 41b does not flow to the other RF electrodes 41c to 41i. In the shallow mode, since a high frequency current is supplied to the RF electrodes adjacent to each other, a relatively shallow portion (such as the epidermis) of the skin can be intensively heated.

  In the deep mode, the RF electrode 41a and the RF electrode 41g, the RF electrode 41b and the RF electrode 41h, the RF electrode 41c and the RF electrode 41i, and the RF electrode 41d and the RF electrode 41f are combined. A high frequency current is supplied to each set of RF electrodes located through the electrodes. Similar to the shallow mode, the control device 11 switches the combination of supplying a high-frequency current at high speed via the RF transmitter 15.

In the deep mode, since a high-frequency current is supplied between the RF electrodes that are located farther from the shallow mode, a relatively deep part (such as subcutaneous fat) of the skin can be preferentially heated. In this way, the user can effectively heat the desired depth portion of the skin simply by operating the mode switch 45. This eliminates the need to prepare a plurality of beauty devices having different interelectrode distances D. In addition, by periodically changing both modes, the skin can be uniformly heated from the shallow part to the deep part.

Note that, similarly to the first embodiment, when the RF electrodes are short-circuited, the supply of the high-frequency current to both the RF electrodes is stopped.
As described above, according to the embodiment described above, in addition to the effects (1) and (3) of the first embodiment, the following effects can be achieved.

  (4) For example, the distance between the RF electrode 41a and the RF electrode 41g is larger than the distance between the RF electrode 41a and the RF electrode 41b. Here, as the inter-electrode distance D increases, the depth L of the high-frequency current increases. For this reason, the depth L of the high-frequency current can be changed by supplying the high-frequency current to different combinations of RF electrodes so that the interelectrode distance D changes. Thereby, an electric current can be made to reach | attain the part of the desired depth in skin, and the part can be heated preferentially.

(Third embodiment)
Hereinafter, a third embodiment of the beauty device according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. The beauty apparatus of this embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that an electrode unit including an RF electrode is configured to be detachable. Hereinafter, a description will be given focusing on differences from the first embodiment. Note that the beauty device of this embodiment has substantially the same configuration as the beauty device of the first embodiment shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 9, two types of electrode units 51 and 52 having different inter-electrode distances D are prepared. The electrode units 51 and 52 include a transmission plate 33, RF electrodes 21 and 22, and an insulating member 34. The installation mode of each component of these electrode units 51 and 52 is the same as that of the first embodiment. The electrode units 51 and 52 are formed with a resin case 54 that covers the side surface of the transmission plate 33. Further, a contact point 55 connected to the RF electrodes 21 and 22 through the conducting wire 60 is provided on the surface of the transmission plate 33 opposite to the RF electrode installation surface.

  The electrode units 51 and 52 are configured to be detachable with respect to the lower part of the body (housing 30) of the beauty device. That is, an opening 56 that opens downward is formed in the lower part of the housing 30 of the beauty apparatus. The reflective member 32 and the light source 14 are exposed through the opening 56. The inner periphery of the opening 56 is formed in a shape corresponding to the outer periphery of the case 54. A contact 58 is provided on each of the left and right inner top surfaces of the opening 56. These contacts 58 are connected to the RF transmitter 15 through a conductive wire 59.

  When the electrode unit 51 is used, the electrode unit 51 is fitted into the opening 56 in a direction in which both the contacts 55 and 58 face each other. When the electrode unit 51 is fitted in the opening 56, the position thereof is held by a locking mechanism (not shown). As the locking mechanism, for example, a configuration in which concave and convex portions that fit each other are formed on the outer peripheral surface of the case 54 and the inner peripheral surface of the opening 56 can be considered. In a state where the electrode unit 51 is fitted in the opening 56, the contacts 55 and 58 are kept in contact with each other. That is, the RF transmitter 15 and the RF electrodes 21 and 22 are in a conductive state via the conductive wires 59 and 60. In this state, when the power switch 16 is operated and the RF electrodes 21 and 22 are applied to the skin, a high-frequency current flows between the RF electrodes 21 and 22. Thereby, the beauty effect is acquired similarly to 1st Embodiment. The electrode unit 51 can be removed from the opening 56 by releasing the holding state by the locking mechanism. The other electrode unit 52 can be attached in the same manner as the one electrode unit 51.

  As shown in FIG. 10, in the electrode unit 51, the inter-electrode distance D is set to 10 mm. Moreover, as shown in FIG. 11, in the electrode unit 52, the distance D between electrodes is set to 20 mm. Here, as described in the second embodiment, the penetration depth L of the high-frequency current is about 50% of the interelectrode distance D. That is, the electrode unit 51 has a depth L of about 5 mm, and the electrode unit 52 has a depth L of about 10 mm. For this reason, the penetration depth L differs depending on which electrode unit 51, 52 is used. When the user wants to heat a relatively deep part of the skin (subcutaneous fat or the like), the electrode unit 52 is used. When the user wants to heat a relatively shallow part (such as the epidermis), the electrode unit 51 is opened. What is necessary is just to attach to the part 56 and use it. This eliminates the need to prepare a plurality of beauty devices having different interelectrode distances D.

As mentioned above, according to embodiment described, in addition to the effect of (1)-(4) of 1st and 2nd embodiment, there can exist the following effects.
(5) The electrode units 51 and 52 include the RF electrodes 21 and 22, and are configured to be detachable from the housing 30 (opening 56) of the beauty apparatus. The electrode distances D of the electrode units 51 and 52 are different. Here, as the inter-electrode distance D increases, the depth L of the high-frequency current increases. Therefore, the depth L of the high-frequency current can be changed depending on which of the electrode units 51 and 52 is attached. Thereby, an electric current can be reached to the desired depth in skin, and the part can be heated preferentially.

In addition, the said embodiment can be implemented with the following forms which changed this suitably.
-In 2nd Embodiment, the one current sensor 24 was provided in the conducting wire 49 between RF transmitter 15 and RF electrode 41a. However, a plurality of current sensors 24 may be provided. In this case, the other current sensor 24 is provided in the conducting wire 49 between the RF transmitter 15 and the other RF electrodes 41b to 41i. As the number of current sensors 24 increases, a short circuit between the RF electrodes can be detected more reliably.

  In the first to third embodiments, a thermoelectric ammeter is adopted as the current sensor 24, but the present invention is not limited to this as long as the current supplied to the RF electrode can be detected. It may be.

The combination of the RF electrodes in both modes shown in the second embodiment is an example,
As long as the inter-electrode distance in the deep mode is larger than the inter-electrode distance in the shallow mode, the combination of the RF electrodes is not limited to this. For example, the distance between the RF electrode 41a and the RF electrode 41i is the largest, and the same current can be reached to the deepest position by supplying a high frequency current thereto.

  In the second embodiment, the deep mode and the shallow mode are switched according to the operation of the mode switch 45. However, the switching between the two modes may be performed automatically every predetermined time.

  In the third embodiment, the electrode units 51 and 52 have different inter-electrode distances D, but configurations other than the inter-electrode distances D may be different. For example, the number of RF electrodes may be changed. Thereby, more various beauty effects can be realized in a single beauty apparatus.

The insulating member 34 in the first and third embodiments may be omitted.
In the first to third embodiments, a xenon flash is used as the light source 14. However, the light source 14 is not limited to this as long as a cosmetic effect can be obtained, and may be an LED (light emitting diode) or a halogen lamp.

  The LED can exhibit different effects according to the wavelength of the light. For example, the light of a blue LED near a wavelength of 415 nm acts on acne bacteria and is effective in treating acne. In addition, the light of the red LED near the wavelength of 630 nm activates the cells that produce dermal collagen and is effective in improving wrinkles. In addition, the light of the near-infrared LED near the wavelength of 830 nm is likely to enter the deep part of the living body, and the light reaches the deep inflammatory lesion. Therefore, it is particularly effective for diseases accompanied by inflammation. Thus, the effect suitable for the state of skin can be acquired by changing the kind of LED employ | adopted. A plurality of LEDs having different wavelengths as described above may be used in combination.

  In addition, the halogen lamp has a relatively large amount of near-infrared light, and acts on a relatively shallow part (skin) of the skin. Thereby, the comparatively shallow part of skin can be heated and skin can be activated. As described above, high-frequency current can be applied to relatively deep parts of the skin (dermis and subcutaneous fat). By combining this high-frequency current with near infrared rays from a halogen lamp, A beauty effect can be obtained. These xenon flash, LED, and halogen lamp may be combined arbitrarily.

  In the second embodiment, there are nine RF electrodes in total. However, if the interelectrode distance D can be changed by changing the combination of the RF electrodes, in other words, if there are three or more RF electrodes, The number of RF electrodes is not limited to this. For example, even if there are a total of three first to third RF electrodes, if the distance between the first and second RF electrodes and the distance between the first and third RF electrodes are different, the same as in the second embodiment Furthermore, the one where the interelectrode distance is small can be set as the shallow mode, and the one where the interelectrode distance is large can be set as the deep mode. At this time, if the distance between the second and third RF electrodes is different from the distance between the other two RF electrodes, a three-stage depth L can be realized with the RF electrodes. Thereby, it is possible to add an intermediate mode between the two modes.

  In the second embodiment, the control device 11 selects two RF electrodes among the RF electrodes 41a to 41i and supplies a high-frequency current to the selected RF electrode. However, three or more RF electrodes may be selected. In this case, for example, the RF electrodes 41g and 41h are connected in parallel to form a combination of the RF electrodes 41g and 41h and the RF electrode 41a. And by supplying a high frequency current to the RF electrodes 41a, 41g, 41h, the current from the RF electrode 41a is distributed and supplied to the RF electrodes 41g, 41h. In addition, currents from the RF electrodes 41g and 41h are concentrated and supplied to the RF electrode 41a.

  -In 1st-3rd embodiment, the transparent electrode which consists of ITO was employ | adopted as RF electrode. However, the RF electrode may not be a transparent electrode, such as copper. Even in this case, the light from the light source 14 is applied to the skin through the gap between the RF electrodes.

  In the first to third embodiments, the beauty device includes the light source 14, but the light source 14 may be omitted. Even in this case, a cosmetic effect can be obtained by the high-frequency current through the RF electrode.

  In the first to third embodiments, the RF electrodes 21, 22, 41a to 41i have a square plate shape. However, the shape of the RF electrode is not limited to this, and may be, for example, a disk shape or a prism shape. For example, when the RF electrode is formed in a disc shape, the side lines 21a and 22a formed by the side surfaces of the both RF electrodes on the insulating member 34 side are formed in a curved shape.

  In the first and third embodiments, both RF electrodes 21 and 22 exist at positions facing each other with the insulating member 34 interposed therebetween. However, the arrangement of both RF electrodes is not limited to this. For example, as shown in FIG. 12, both RF electrodes 61 and 62 may be provided at positions shifted in the vertical direction in FIG. Even in this case, the insulating member 34 is installed based on the viewpoint described in the first embodiment. That is, a quadrilateral 64 is virtually set with the side lines 63 formed by the side surfaces of the RF electrodes 61 and 62 on the insulating member 34 side on both the left and right sides. At this time, the insulating member 34 is provided between the RF electrodes 61 and 62 at a position that divides the quadrilateral 64 into left and right. As long as this condition is met, even if the direction of the insulating member 34 and the size of the long side are changed, the short-circuit suppressing effect can be obtained as in the first embodiment.

  In the first to third embodiments, the control device 11 stops supplying the high-frequency current to the RF electrodes 21 and 22 through the RF transmitter 15 when detecting that the short circuit state has occurred. However, the control device 11 may not stop the supply of the high-frequency current even if the short circuit state is detected. In this case, for example, a notification lamp for notifying the user of the occurrence of a short circuit is provided. When detecting the short circuit state, the control device 11 lights the notification lamp to notify the user of the occurrence of the short circuit. If the user knows that a short circuit has occurred through the lighting of the notification lamp, the user can immediately separate the RF electrodes 21 and 22 from the metal. Further, the method of notifying the occurrence of a short circuit is not limited to lighting of the notification lamp, but may be appealed to the user's hearing through a warning sound. Thereby, it is possible to eliminate the short circuit state while continuing to use the beauty device.

  -In 1st-3rd embodiment, although the high frequency current was supplied to skin, a low frequency current may be sufficient.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 ... Control apparatus, 14 ... Light source, 21, 22 ... RF electrode, 24 ... Current sensor, 33 ... Transmission plate (installation member), 34 ... Insulating member, 41a-41i ... RF electrode.

Claims (7)

A plurality of electrodes that supply current to the skin through contact with the skin;
A control device for controlling the supply of current to the electrodes;
A current sensor for detecting a current supplied to the electrode,
The cosmetic device detects that the electrode is in a short-circuited state when the current detected by the current sensor is equal to or greater than a threshold value set as a reference for determining whether or not the electrode is short-circuited. . The beauty device according to claim 1,
The beauty device which stops supply of the electric current to the said electrode, when the said control apparatus detects that it is a short circuit state. The beauty device according to claim 1 or 2,
An insulating member disposed between a pair of adjacent electrodes on the same plane as the plurality of electrodes;
The insulating member has a larger height in a direction orthogonal to the surface than the electrode, and lines formed on both side surfaces of the electrodes on the insulating member side when viewed from the direction orthogonal to the surface. A beauty device provided at a position that bisects a quadrilateral with two sides. In the beauty device according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
A light source for irradiating the skin with light from the back side of the electrode;
The beauty device is a transparent electrode. In the beauty apparatus as described in any one of Claims 1-4,
Three or more of the electrodes are arranged at positions where the distance between the electrodes is a plurality of different distances,
The control device is a beauty device that supplies current to at least two of the plurality of electrodes. In the beauty apparatus as described in any one of Claims 1-5,
A beauty device comprising the plurality of electrodes and an installation member on which the electrodes are arranged, and an electrode unit that is detachably attached to the body of the beauty device via the installation member. The beauty device according to claim 4,
The beauty light source, wherein the light source is at least one of a xenon flash, an LED, and a halogen lamp.

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